Hinge for movable control surfaces in an aircraft and a connecting piece to be used with such a hinge

• US 6,270,039 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Patria Finavicomp Oy (Suomen Valtio/Alv)
• Inventors: Linjama, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/416,622
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 244/75.R, 244/131, 244/213, 244/214, 244/215, 244/216, 244/123, 74/96
• US Class Current: 244/213
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/24 Transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/02 Mounting or supporting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge for movable control surfaces in an aircraft. The hinge comprises two hinge lugs placed at a distance from one another. The hinge lugs include connecting lugs with an elongated connecting piece therebetween. An actuator is connected to the connecting piece conveying the force by means of fastening lugs to the hinge and further onto the control surface. The connecting piece is pivoted to the connecting lugs so that it can revolve about its longitudinal axis when moving the control surface.

The invention also relates to a connecting piece intended to be used with a hinge like the one described above. The connecting piece is an elongated element including journals at both ends from where the connecting piece is rotatably pivoted about its longitudinal axis between the connecting lugs on the hinge. A middle portion of the connecting piece between the journals is flat and tapers towards the journals.

Claims

1. A hinge construction for a movable control surface of an aircraft, said hinge construction comprising:

a pair of spaced hinge lugs connectable to the moveable control surface,

each hinge lug including a fastening lug hingeably connected to the aircraft such that rotation of the hinge lugs produces movement of the control surface, each hinge lug further including a connecting lug, wherein said hinge lugs are rotatably connected to the aircraft around an axis offset from said longitudinal axis of said connecting piece,

an elongated connecting piece having ends each rotatable connected to a respective said connecting lug such that said connecting piece connects said hinge lugs together and provides relative rotation between said connecting piece and said connecting lugs around a longitudinal axis of said connecting piece, and

an actuator connected to said connecting piece to apply a force transversely thereof to produce transverse displacement of said connecting piece and rotation of said fastener lugs around the aircraft to move said control surface while said ends of the connecting piece rotate in said connecting lugs.

2. The hinge construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening lug and said connecting lug of each hinge lug are adjacent to one another.

3. The hinge construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting piece has a middle portion which is thicker than end portions of the connecting piece.

4. The hinge construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein said middle portion of said connecting piece comprises a transverse fastening hole, substantially perpendicular in relation to the planar surface of said middle portion, and said actuator comprises a branch-like fastening element which is connected to said fastening hole by means of a fastening pin, thus connecting said actuator to said connecting piece.

5. A connecting piece of a hinge construction for a movable control surface of an aircraft, wherein said hinge construction includes a pair of spaced hinge lugs including fastening lugs and connecting lugs and an actuator, said connecting piece comprising:

an elongated member having ends comprising journals, each rotatably connected to a respective said connecting lug such that said connecting piece connects said hinge lugs together and provides relative rotation between said connecting piece and said connecting lugs around a longitudinal axis of said connecting piece,

said elongated member including a middle portion which is thicker than end portions of said member, said middle portion of said connecting piece comprises a transverse fastening hole, substantially perpendicular in relation to the planar surface of said middle portion, said fastening hole connecting said actuator to said connecting piece by means of a fastening pin.

6. The connecting piece of a hinge construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said elongated member includes at least one recess formed on the upper and lower surfaces of said middle portion.